Thank you!

We would like to thank all of the artists who donated quilts, to the winning bidders who purchased them (and those who tried), and to our sponsors, who help make our annual contest possible. You helped raise $8,593 to support the Quilt Alliance mission!

Stay tuned; information about the 2017 Quilt Alliance contest will be posted here in January.

About the 2016 Contest

The Quilt Alliance presents a contest, exhibition and auction of small wall quilts every year. This key fundraiser supports our mission of documenting, preserving and sharing the history of quilts and their makers, and is an important opportunity to showcase and record the work of quilters in the U.S. and all over the world.Thank you to all of the artists who entered and donated a quilt (or quilts!) to the 10th annual Quilt Alliance contest! View a gallery of all the quilts.

Our 2016 contest was for all quilters—we encouraged everyone who makes quilts to enter regardless of their style (traditional, modern, art) or technique (longarm, hand quilting, applique, pieced…)—all are welcomed and valued! This year’s theme is “Playing Favorites” and we encouraged entrants to work deep inside their comfort zone, their happy place, and we presented our resources to give you extra inspiration.

The rules were simple: make a 16” by 16” wall quilt showcasing your very favorite pattern or technique. Whether it’s double wedding ring or hexies, crazy quilting, textile art or modern, make your quilt about whatever you love most in quilting right now. We’re interested in documenting the state of quilting in 2016—including your favorites!

Please note: Past Quilt Alliance Contest Grand Prize Winners are ineligible for the Grand Prize on any given contest year. Employees, dealers or retail representatives of contest sponsors, as well as Quilt Alliance staff, board members and advisory council members are ineligible to win any and all Quilt Alliance contest prizes.

Moda Prize for Quilt Guilds

A special prize goes to the Asheville Quilt Guild, who had the most members to enter an individual quilt for this contest. All entrants from the AQG will receive a thank you gift from Moda Fabrics. Nice job!

Auction and Exhibitions

As in previous years, the contest quilts will tour the country to various quilt shows like Original Sewing & Quilt Expo, corporate exhibition spaces like the one at Handi Quilter, Inc., and events like Quilters Take Manhattan, before being auctioned off to benefit the Quilt Alliance. An exhibition schedule will be shared here soon. All quilts will be labeled using StoryPatches, which include a QR code to link the quilt to its Quilt Index record.

Many Moons, Sherri Lipman McCauley, Lakeway, TX

Angled, Sherri Lipman McCauley, Lakeway, TX

Bodo, a Guide Dog in Training, Kitty Vangunten, Simsbury, CT

Floating Squares and Triangles, Esther Muh, Albany, CA

Piedmont Park, Sarah Entsminger, Ashburn, VA

Color Play, Lisa Ellis, Fairfax, Virginia

GRAND PRIZE, My Garden, Margaret Cibulsky, Port Washington, NY

Cotton fabric and thread, improvisational piecing and machine detail

Artist's statement: The whole style of this quilt was an experiment. While my favorite way to make a quilt is improvisational piecing, I had never used this technique with the intention of using my work as the background for a natural scene. Another first was the free-cut blooms which I attached with raw-edge applique and then using some fancy stitches on my machine to create greenery. All in all, this little quilt is one of my favorites!

Judges' comments: We were all in agreement about the appropriateness of My Garden for this prize. The maker is clearly not stuck in any particular genre. Cone flowers and daisies bloom atop a somewhat "improvisational" background of random-size squares and rectangles, mostly—but not entirely—solids. The freeform flowers, though not ultra-realistic, are easily recognizable and nicely balanced. We love the lacy, embroidered stems and purple flowers that make up the lower third of the piece. Congratulations on a job well done!

Handi Quilter Grand Prize

FIRST PLACE, Roo to Roo, Nancy Brown, Oakland, CA

Artist's statement: When I was a child my Aunt Zelma visited Australia and when she came back she told me about the most amazing creatures that she had seen. It was then that I fell in love with the animals of Australia. I love them all but I think that kangaroos would have to be my favorites. This quilt depicts two young kangaroos at a meeting.

Members' Choice, First Place

SECOND PLACE, More Slices, Betsy Vinegrad, Short Hills, NJ

Techniques: Designed in Electric Quilt 7, paper pieced, walking foot and free motion quilting, Materials: Commercial cottons, solids, prints and batiks. Backing is made from fabrics used on the front. Wool and cotton batting.

Artist's statement: Quilts and pizza top my list of favorites. I made a pizza quilt, No Slices! Fuggedaboutit!, for Empire Quilters 2011 President's Challenge, Landmarks of New York. It won 1st place because it was the president's favorite. Fans offered to buy it because it was their favorite. My husband objected because it was his favorite. Since there wasn't enough pizza to go around, I had to make More Slices for the Quilt Alliance, my favorite charity.

JUDGE'S CHOICE, American Foursquare, Amy Munson, Bismarck, ND

Artist's statement: What do I love most about quilting? I love creating my own patterns and unique designs that mix traditional and contemporary techniques. I love raw edges and ripped fabric, embellished with embroidery and beads. I love playing with color and texture.

Judge Marianne Fons' comments: What impressed me most about this entry—and the reason I chose it as my personal favorite—is how well it reads graphically. The work's solidity of design comes through clearly, even when viewed as a tiny thumbnail photo on my computer screen. I love how the house is "boxed" with lighter and then darker blue. I love how the artist "built" the house using non-architectural print fabrics. The colors used for the house make it appear cozy and inviting, a place anyone would love to live. Raw edges, ripped fabric, and bead embellishment are not techniques I use in my own work, but my hat is off to the maker of this clever piece, who beautifully and skillfully captured an iconic American architectural style.

Artist's statement: I designed and produced Up and Away using one of my favorite piecing techniques--foundation paper piecing. I love paper piecing because I can design and execute precise design elements. All of my paper piecing designs are created in Adobe Illustrator. I also love testing out new designs on a small scale before producing them larger. This challenge was the perfect opportunity to prototype a new design!

Judge Mark Lipinski's comments: This entry is an original paper-pieced composition, a drifting hot air balloon, with an intentional modern design sensibility. On first impression, the simple templates and pieced colors jump off of the solid white background, drawing me in. I found the overall impact of the work fresh and clean. The shapes within the balloon widen and grow, from slivers of lime green (representing the balloon’s flame) through various blues and finally to deep red- and blue-toned purples, giving the small quilt both heft and dimension. I thought the artist’s fabric choices thoughtful and effective—primarily solid colors with just the slightest bit of minimalistic patterned fabric tossed into the mix. The quilting is simple but efficient, made up of clean and clear straight lines that accent the shapes within the balloon, contrasted with the slightly wavy lines quilted in the background. I really appreciated the white binding the designer used, as almost any other color would have felt heavy and constraining.

Judge's Choice (Mark Lipinkski) and Honorable Mention

JUDGES CHOICE, Follow Your Arrow, Mary Kay Davis, Sunnyvale, CA

Machine pieced and quilted.

Artist's statement: This quilt started out as two blocks I created for another challenge. I decided to challenge myself by making them into 5" blocks. I love the idea of following your arrow or making your own path. Whatever it takes to make you happy!

Judge Paula Nadelstern's Comments: This quilt illustrates one of my design beliefs: quilts made of simple shapes can be transformed into visual spectacles that read as complex, thoughtful acts of creativity. Structure, ingenuity and color balance are the hallmarks of this charming quilt that’s essentially a checkerboard alternating two patchwork blocks. The whimsical, slightly irregular black and white border/binding was worth the extra effort. Ultimately, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. I’m also partial to titles that are a perfect fit.

Judge's Choice (Paula Nadelstern)

HONORABLE MENTION, Manhattan Mayhem, Michelle Banton, Lunenburg, MA

Artist's statement: One of my favorite places to visit is New York City because of all the hustle and bustle. I love seeing the colors, the people, the architecture, the smells and tastes - but I wouldn't want to live there. Too much mayhem on a daily basis for me. In my quilting I've been having fun with the Dresden Plate and doing all sorts of variations.

Artist's statement: Quilting a quilt in bright colors and telling a story doesn't get much better. This is my tribute to those young girls who have been told they are plain. They are not. My mom told me I was plain. Learn to play the piano...so I could be invited to parties. Using an old photo...I decided Jane is not so plain and she has an inner beauty. Using Aboriginal Artists that I bought in sample packs made that possible.

Honorable Mention

HONORABLE MENTION, Solar Flare, Michael Michalski, Brooklyn, NY

Artist's statement: I have a background in theatrical costumes, and love to use techniques and materials usually associated with clothing not quilts. I work at creating dimensionality by finishing portions separately then overlapping them, and also by including open spaces. On 'Solar Flare' sections of the background are sheer, allowing whatever surface it is displayed against to factor into it's final appearance. My favorite way to play always includes trying new things.

Honorable Mention

HONORABLE MENTION, Pink Exhuberance, Karen Grover, Rockford, IL

Artist's statement: Whenever I need a break from my normal quilting routine, I turn to Diane Hire's playful method of free cutting and lack of rules. It inspires me and loosens up my imagination. This quilt happened on a dreary March afternoon and brightened my day considerably.

Honorable Mention

HONORABLE MENTION, Blue Muse, Sondra Millard, Wichita, KS

Artist's statement: Blue Muse honors my favorite quilt artist-Danny Amazonas, fabrics- Kaffe Fasset Collective, subject-Jane Sassaman's garden art statue Blue Muse and technique-broderie perse. I designed the binding as an homage to Yvonne Porcella, my favorite teacher. I wanted my subject to convey the mysterious process of where ideas come from and how they can take on a life of their own. My quilting choice represents ideas flowing out from our muses with the outline quilting giving definition to the flowers in the gardens our our imaginations.

Honorable Mention

HONORABLE MENTION, The Cycle- Hawaii, Maria Cousins, Great River, NY

Hand Painted on Mulberry silk by Maria with silk dyes, free motion machine quilted, hand stitched embroidered rain, and a quilt as you go silk dupioni border with a silk piping. Fusiboo batting and silk threads on painting. Aurafil thread on borders. This quilt is one of a series of quilts based on the poem with different locations and landscapes.

Artist's statement: Playing favorites means to me, combining my painted quilts with my poetry. As an aviation major I wrote the poem The Cycle ( I included it in the buyers note.) I loved being up in the sky with the clouds it was one of my favorite activities. This earth's cycle is one of my favorite examples of our creators brilliance. My favorite -- and only -- sister lives in one of my favorite places; Hawaii. This painting is inspired by my many visits there.

Cotton fabrics for the top and back. I used Derwert Inktense pencils for the kitten applique. The dresden flower stems are hand stitched embellished ribbon.

Artist's statement: I love cats and the joy that they have brought me in my life.Cats are my favorite animal. Katrina is the name my grandmother used for me when I was little, I miss her and wish she could have taught me to quilt. My favorite colors are brights and I am fond of hexies and dresden plates. I think my grandmother would enjoy this art quilt.

Honorable Mention

HONORABLE MENTION, June's Garden, Sandi Goldman, Annandale, VA

Artist's statement: For over 2 years one of my daily art practices has been to post a flower photo on social media. I take many of my photos on walks in my neighborhood in Northern Virginia where there are so many beautiful flowers. In this piece I got to play with some of my favorite things photography and fabric.

Honorable Mention

HONORABLE MENTION, Go Fish!, Maude Haeger, West Chester, OH

Artist's statement: Go Fish is a favorite childhood card game, first of all. I personally like to work bigger than 16 inches, so this is always a challenge to get all I have to say in such a little space. I have many "favorites" in the quilt making world. When I am frustrated I LOVE to create the paper pieced points of what I consider the "crown" of the New York Beauty quilts - it is very controlled and and I feel in control of the process which helps me out of frustration. I LOVE to do various types of embroidery and have since I was a child. I used to do it all by hand, and have the quilt to prove it, but now I use the sewing machine and Solvy. The fish designs were created for a much larger quilt that has a whole fish pond in a center garden pond, but for this piece, I was able to place fish in the center of the "sun" and then have one fish kind of jumping in just for fun and to create more depth to the piece. I also like to create depth through visual means in my pieces, thus you will also see pieces of net which add one more layer of depth to the piece. Many of my newest pieces have layer upon layer of filmy cloth and lots of embroidering which create an enriched surface that looks vaguely like pastel. I also love color which should be apparent from the piece.

Bonnie & friends, Katherine Dossman, Belton, Texas

Shiva paint sticks stenciled on the black fabric and french knot centers. Hand embroidered and beading on the dresden plate. Texture magic in the center of the flower. Cotton.

Artist's statement: I like dresden plates and hand embroidery . I love bright colors and often use animals in my quilts. The fabric made me happy. My mother loves cows and lived on a farm when she was little. This art quilt makes her smile.

Modern 2, Jodi Scaltreto, Hillsboro, NH

Commercial cotton, invisible thread

Artist's statement: Lately I have become very taken with the modern quilt movement. This is one of the first ones I have done in this style. I like the simple lines of this piece.

Flag Quilt with Hearts, Ramona Bates, Little Rock, AR

Cotton fabrics. Heirloom batting. Machine pieced/quilted.

Artist's statement: I love flag quilts and have made many different sizes of American flag quilts. This one uses different red/beige fabrics. The red strips of the flag were made using hearts. The blue field is quilted with a central heart then echo quilted outward.

Woman With Velvet Lips, Laurie Ceesay, Menominee, MI

Artist's statement: My favorite style of quilt is a portrait quilt. I used my favorite color hot pink as well as my favorite embellishments-glitter nail polish, rhinestones, special occasion fabrics like velvet and tulle and white matte fabric paint for the eye reflection. I am a hairdresser and the layered asymmetrical bob hairstyle is also my favorite hairstyle which I featured in this quilt!

Rusted and Dusted, Barbara Polston, Phoenix, AZ

Artist's statement: Playing with a new favorite that has been on my must try list for years. Rust-dyed fabric creates the background for this Fall tree. Changing colors of the leaves are represented with the addition of buttons, many from my vintage collection. Trees have been a central theme in my work over the past several years, just another favorite!

Cityscape, Leslie Kauffmann, Belgium, Brussels

Artist's statement: Bargello quilts are one of my very favorites. I have played with bargello technique to evoke a multi-tiered city skyline at purple sunset when lights are beginning to come on in the city.

One Crazy Dresden, Allie Aller, Washougal, WA

Artist's statement: My favorite way to make quilts right now is to combine traditional patterns with elements of crazy quilting, incorporating lots of different fabrics with hand and machine techniques...and I always add flowers whenever I can!

Artist's statement: I love doing quits about puppies. This is the 1st Lizzy quilt. Like all puppies she explores new things and getting into trouble. This quilt gave me the opportunity to try a new idea.

Rose Delight, Megan Byrne, Wembley, WA

Artist's statement: I love roses and my garden is full of them, I also like to quilt. I designed this quilt to feature my favourite flower as well as my love of whole cloth quilts and free motion quilting.

The Kiss, Megan Byrne, Wembley, WA

100 percent cotton fabric and two layers of warm and white batting. Various coloured polyester thread. Lumiere fabric paints both metallic and flat as well as water soluble pastels for the image.

Artist's statement: My favourite technique at the moment is fabric painting and quilting. While on holiday in the outback I came upon these two kookaburras sitting in a gum tree. Yellow roses had wound themselves through the branches and the two birds looked as if they were kissing in their own little flower bower. I designed and painted this quilt from that image.

Tumble, Alice Helms, Asheville, NC

English paper-piecing, hand appliqué, trapunto, machine quilting.

Artist's statement: The technique of English Paper-Piecing has become a favorite. I like doing handwork, for one thing, but I also like the visual effect of the tessellating shapes. I love to use up scraps of fabric and these were some of the leftovers from a quilt made 2 years ago for a raffle.

I Left My Heart, Phyllis Campbell, Rockford, IL

Artist's statement: Playing with machine-applique is one of my favorite things to do, and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco is one of my favorite places in the USA! The vibrant red-orange bridge color, the blue waters, and the green mountainsides create a charming quilt that is bordered by mini peace signs on a natural color cloth. I truly leave my heart each time I visit this favorite place.

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie, Pauline Salzman, Treasure Island, FL

Cotton,Tule, Aurifil Thread, Wool Felt batting

Artist's statement: Done mostly in shades of blue, using some men's shirts and purchased fabric. This is Lucy. Dali like because you have to view it at a distance to see the puppy. Original photo is on the back.

Sunlight On The Forest Road, Mary Henris, Havelock, NC

This whole cloth piece uses a black, grey and white variegated Aurifil thread. The thread creates the light and dark patterns shining through the trees onto the road. The piece is enhanced by the use of different crazy Quilt stitches to symbolize tire tracks, leaves, flowing water, wisps of wind, birds darting back and forth, and trails of hopping critters encountered on drives through the Croatan forest.

Artist's statement: I played favorites by using my favorite processes in quilting. My favorites are whole cloth quilts, Crazy Quilt stitches, symbolism, trying new threads, and using my home machine to create them.

By the Light of the Moon, Kristin Shields, Bend, OR

Artist's statement: Embroidered folk art animal pieces are a favorite technique of mine. Once the animal is appliqued, I like to draw details freehand and stitch over them with embroidery floss.t

Facets, Ann Bordeau, Arden, NC

Bottom baton fabrics, EPP hand-pieced center, machine quilting and a coordinating orphan block was used for the backing.

Artist's statement: I enjoy English Paper Piecing so thought I would play with this favorite technique for this year's submission.

Sonnenblume, Ellen Hernandez, San Antonio, TX

Cotton fabric, raw edge applique, spray fabric glitter

Artist's statement: One of my favorite things to do is organize and when sorting my sewing closet I found several PIGS (Projects I've Gotta Sew.) This sunflower was from an unfinished Melinda Bula class with techniques I'm not really thrilled about, ie, kits, raw edge applique, free motion quilting. Adding a few of my fabrics, some glitter, and varied quilting turned Sonnenblume into a favorite - I got the PIG done!

Crazy for Quilting, MaryEllen Sax, Woodbury, MN

My piece is a collection of old and new fabrics and embellishments. Including a vintage hankie and odd pieces of old lace. Silk ribbon embroidery as well as embroidery with a variety of types of threads. A mix of beads, buttons and jewelry pieces.

Artist's statement: Growing up in the Sixties and being married to a rock encyclopedia, we enjoy traveling the world for concerts. Ain't nothing better than live handmade rock and blues, especially played on the famous Strat ! I named all those Masters who got a signature model -- the first was made for the six-string virtuoso whom I saw more than a hundred times since 1969 -- and some who play in our favourite bands. Yeah !

Gwen Visits the Farm, Mary Puckett, Cullowhee, NC

Cotton fabric, improvisationally pieced. The solids are Michael Miller Cotton Couture. Quilters Dream Request Loft cotton batting. Quilted with Superior So Fine thread on the top and Superior Bottom Line thread in the bobbin.

Artist's statement: This quilt is done in the style of Gwen Marston, whose improvisational work is an inspiration to me. This is the first in a series I've been thinking about for a long time. My intent is to make small quilts in the style of some of my favorite quilters, with a little joke in the fabric selection. The black fabric in this quilt is printed with farm animal sounds such as oink and quack.

Artist's statement: My favorite pastime is making compilation quilts. I chose to represent the lyrics of My Favorite Things. Included are warm woolen mittens, knitted on toothpicks; a brown paper package tied up with strings near a whiskered kitten; and cream colored ponies frolicking in a winter scene that is melting into spring. The girl wears a white dress with blue satin sashes. Can you find raindrops on roses, snowflakes and wild geese flying with moons on their wings?

Happy Spring, Theresa Nielsen, Royal Oak, MI

Ribbons, beads, lace and embroidery.

Artist's statement: I love Spring, like a new beginning. Crazy quilting and yo-yo's are the best.

Joyous, Melanie Marr, Houston, TX

Materials used are black fabric, acrylic paints, batting, stabilizer, and thread. Techniques used are that the image is drawn onto fabric, painted, then quilted.

Artist's statement: Joyous was inspired by a photo from a trip my family and I took to the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington DC. The Panda is my favorite type of bear and in the photo the Panda seemed joyous and content.

Happy Glamper, Mary Kay Davis, Sunnyvale, CA

Machine appliqued and quilted with a little bit of glue thrown in.

Artist's statement: I think it would be great fun to restore a vintage camper. Wouldn't it be wonderful to hit the road with your sewing machine and your favorite sock monkey while enjoying the great outdoors?

Happy It's Spring, Allie Aller, Washougal, WA

Artist's statement: I've loved making stained glass quilts for two decades now. There are always new ways to experiment with this genre!

Lilac Bloom, Sue Gies, Custer, SD

Quilted as if a wholecloth quilt with metalic yarn thread. Then I colored with water color pencils for textile, blended with Inktense pencils then used textile medium to seal and blend. I then hand sewed on 100s of glass beads.

Artist's statement: My favorite quilting technique is to always try new and different things. This one was quilted as if a whole cloth with a sparkling metalic thread, then painted with a water color technique then blended using paint media. Then hand beading was sewn on. This was new and challenging to me and that is why it would be considered playing favorites.

Flower Power, Sue Gies, Custer, SD

I used mostly batik fabric, and the background was gradation, which make the bird look as though it has sun shinning on him. I used a raw edge applique technique with a blanket stitch prior to quilting it. I custom quilted it with many circles and fern motif that I designed. The pattern was from Edyta Sitar -- Laundry Basket Quilts -- a class I took.

Artist's statement: I have many favorites when it comes to quilting and applique has to be right at the top. I generally pick out patterns that have some applique in them, or I end up adding something during the process. This one also has piecing and applique and I love Edyta Sitar's technique of piecing. I took this online class from her and it was so much fun. Quilting is also right at the top of my favorite. I am a longarm quilter and love to try all sorts of stitches. I like the small and detail stitching. The more quilting the more I like it.

Moonlight Moose, Sue Gies, Custer, SD

techniques and materials

This was an applique design from Happy Hollow designs. I use soft and bright batting from warm and natural in most all my quilts especially wall hangings. I used glide thread.

Artist's statement: This was just a cute pattern and just had to make it. I love cute things. Applique is one of my favorite techniques along with quilting. I used the blanket stitch around applique then quilted it. I have a longarm machine and love to see what designs I can come up with. Love detailed designs, the smaller the better. Love to give my quilts depth with stitches. I did a little thread painting when I quilted it to make it look like fur.

Another Beautiful Day, Sue Gies, Custer, SD

This is primarily art quilt with multiple layers, lots of detailed quilting and rhinestones added to give it illusion of rain.

Artist's statement: I am just learning to make art quilts and I am loving it. This is my own design and reminds me of when I was a little girl. I love to challenge myself with new and different work. So I wanted an art quilt that had landscape and something of my childhood. I loved playing in the rain as a little girl, and my grandmother would always tell my to take an umbrella. This little quilt has a lot of my favorites all in one. Applique, art quilt, detailed quilting, uniqueness, a hidden bird and its just fun.

INVICTUS -- In Honor, Maria Goodwin, Washington, DC

Artist's statement: Favorites are: Symbols/History/Color. This patchwork piece uses them to remember African American participation in World War I. Red/White/Blue: USA; Blue Star/Gold Star: Military Service and those who did/did not return; Gold: medals & honor awarded and earned; Red/Black poppy: military memorial flower; Cowrie shell: African American heritage.

Petite Picnic Petals, Sheri Cifaldi-Morrill, Woodbridge, CT

Artist's statement: Petite Picnic Petals is a modern quilt that is based on the Flowering Snowball block, one of my favorite traditional blocks. This mini, or petite, quilt is a variation on my large Picnic Petals pattern design. While I've made many large Flowering Snowball blocks, I've never scaled down the block this small -- approximately 4 inch x 4 inch. This challenge was a good opportunity to explore scale.

So Many Colors, Sheri Cifaldi-Morrill, Woodbridge, CT

Artist's statement: So Many Colors is a tribute to one of my favorite brands of threads using one of my favorite piecing techniques--foundation paper piecing. The spools are actual size. The same brand of thread was used for piecing and quilting--all colors are Cotton 50wt.

Countryside in Spring, María González Rico, Alcorcon, Spain

Artist's statement: This work I have experimented with point and machine punching, to give depth and texture to this country landscape.

Funny Face, Christine Bradford, Washington, DC

100 percent cottons, batiks and regular cottons. Four of the Funny Faces were painted on wax batik. Artist paint sticks were also used.

Artist's statement: One of my Favorite Things is to use my orphan blocks in a new project. This orphan block is a disappearing 9-patch, using batiks. The label on the back is also an orphan block.

Bright and Clear in Maine, Callie Lavoie, Wells, ME

Cotton fabrics, cotton batting, machine pieced, machine quilted.

Artist's statement: Playing Favorites -- Cool crisp days in Maine beside the ocean. Piecing traditional Storm at Sea blocks and reveling in the blue and white palette. All favorites!

Table for One, Sue Rook Nichols, Riverside, CA

100 percent cotton fabric and batting, fusible applique, free motion quilting on a long arm using several brands of rayon and polyester threads.

Artist's statement: One of my favorite things to do at the end of the day is to sit on the patio with a glass of wine. I love bright fabrics and simple motifs and I am learning to love fusible applique.

Sugar Skull Study 2, Mary Whittaker, Orlando, FL

Materials: wool, cotton for binding and backing, a variety of threads of different weights and materials, beads Techniques: hand appliquéd, hand quilted, used a variety of embroidery stitches

Artist's statement: My favorite technique is creating contemporary folk art using wool, threads and stitches to create a design and texture. The touch of the wool, threads, and embellishments while 'painting' with wool allow me to play and truly feed my soul with each project. I chose to play with the sugar skull for the embellishment opportunities and their part of the Dia de los Muertos celebration which is also my birthday!

My Favorites Orchids and Butterflies, Charlotte Noll, Lauderhill, FL

Artist's statement: My favorite things besides quilts are orchids and butterflies. I took a picture of a newly birthed monarch on an orchid plant in my butterfly garden and made a mosaic pattern from it. I love to use my mosaic quilt technique especially to depict nature. The raw noil silk looks like grout and the batiks, hand dyes have the look of glass.

In The Wind, Jessica Skultety, Phillipsburg, NJ

Artist's statement: This quilt encapsulates my current quilting loves: solid fabrics, cool colors, machine applique, and free motion quilting. Orange peels have become my signature style; I love how versatile and whimsical they are. I'm currently creating a body of work featuring the orange peel in modern/modern traditional quilts under the hashtag #jsorangepeelcollection. It's my hope that I'll never run out of ideas, because making orange peels is, in a word, comforting.

Mondrian's Lone Star, Linda Robertus, Grange, Australia

hand-dyed and commercial cotton, machine piecing and quilting

Artist's statement: My favourite quilt design is the Lone Star, and I enjoy trying to come up with new ideas to use this traditional design in modern ways.

Artist's statement: This simple quilt is dedicated to all those teachers who plant seeds of encouragement to try new techniques. One favorite teacher in particular was inspiration for this quilt since I will be taking a DWR class with her in the Fall and wanted to give it a try before I showed up for class. Can you guess the name of this favorite teacher? She encourages us all to begin with 15 minutes of play!

Many Moons, Sherri Lipman McCauley, Lakeway, TX

Artist's statement: I like to work extemporaneously and in the abstract. Bright colors tend to excite me, as well as geometry and asymmetry. I typically work in the moment, working with paints and dyes on fabric, creating serendipitous designs. The simple line of a geometric shape, the blast of a colorful line, or the contrast of black against white makes my canvas sing.

Angled, Sherri Lipman McCauley, Lakeway, TX

Artist's statement: I like to work extemporaneously and in the abstract. Bright colors tend to excite me, as well as geometry and asymmetry. I typically work in the moment, working with paints and dyes on fabric, creating serendipitous designs. The simple line of a geometric shape, the blast of a colorful line, or the contrast of black against white makes my canvas sing.

Bodo, a Guide Dog in Training, Kitty Vangunten, Simsbury, CT

Thread painted cotton fabric.

Artist's statement: Bodo is a German shepherd puppy in training to be a guide dog. During the 14 or so months he is with us he is a member of our family.

Floating Squares and Triangles, Esther Muh, Albany, CA

Machine pieced, quilted, and bound, with some decorative hand quilting

Artist's statement: I pulled out scraps of my favorite background colors that I use often--different shades of white, teals, and grays. Then I followed a score out of my current favorite sewing book, The Improv Handbook for Modern Quilters, by S.L. Wood.

Piedmont Park, Sarah Entsminger, Ashburn, VA

Artist's statement: Dappled sunshine, a gentle breeze, the rustling of leaves and a slow moving creek. These are the sights and sounds that describe one of my favorite things - walking in the park. Being out in nature, either hiking or walking, provides a connection to the land that is essential to me as well as an opportunity to calm my soul. Piedmont Park is one of my favorite places to walk.

Color Play, Lisa Ellis, Fairfax, Virginia

Techniques: Machine pieced and quilted. Materials: Commercial cottons

Artist's statement: My obsession with the cathedral window block started with a quilt my grandmother made in the 1970’s using a variety of bright, cheerful, and colorful fabrics. She made the block the traditional way by folding squares of muslin, adding the colorful windows, and hand stitching back the flaps. I developed a new method to make a mock cathedral window entirely by machine and to incorporate more fabrics into the block. Color Play honors the tradition of my grandmother with an exploration of color.

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